Outdoor Play Areas

1

• Outdoor Play Areas
• Susan Lane, REHS, CPSI
• Environmental Health Specialist II

2
Outdoor Grounds

• Maintenance The grounds shall be maintained in a
  sanitary condition, well drained and free of
  refuse, litter, animal droppings, insect and
  rodent harborages, poisonous plants, weed
  overgrowth, and unused equipment.

7.0
3
Outdoor Grounds

• Exterior Garbage Exterior garbage and rubbish
  containers shall be easily cleanable, covered
  with a tight fitting lid, well maintained,
  inaccessible to children and removed on a
  frequency that prevents creation of a nuisance.

4
Swimming and Wading PoolsPermanent Water Features

• A Health Permit to operate a public pool shall be
  maintained for a Child Care Center swimming pool
  or permanent wading pool.
• All bodies of water shall have a barrier that
  conforms to NAC 444.136.

5
Swimming and Wading Pools

• Swimming and permanent wading pools shall meet
  all requirements of the Nevada Administrative
  Code (NAC) 444, Public Bathing Places and Spas.
• Portable wading pools are prohibited

6
Playground Statistics

• Purpose of Hazard Identification is to reduce the
  number and severity of life-threatening and
  seriously debilitating injuries
• 1 cause of DEATH Entanglement due to clothes
  or something around a childs neck becoming
  caught or entwined on a component of playground
  equipment

7
Playground Statistics

• 1 cause of INJURY Falls which result in brain
  damage, permanent paralysis, long bone fractures,
  other long term, life-impacting injuries
• Both of these causes may be abated by proper use
  of equipment, supervision, and handholds,
  guardrails and protective barriers

8
Child Care CenterOutdoor Play Areas 7.4

• An outdoor play area must meet SNHD criteria for
  the following
• 7.4.1 Construction Plan Review
• 7.4.2 Enclosures
• 7.4.3 Visibility
• 7.4.4 Drinking Water
• 7.4.5 Shade
• 7.4.6 Playground Equipment
• 7.4.7 Protective Surfaces
• 7.4.8 Maintenance and
• Supervision

9
Construction Plan Review 7.4.1

• Properly developed plans for construction,
  expansion, renovation or conversion shall be
  submitted to SNHD Plan Review.

10
Enclosures 7.4.2

• Perimeter fencing or walls must be no less than
  48 in height
• Fencing and components must be sturdy, rigid and
  non-deforming

11
Enclosures 7.4.2
Spacing between vertical components and under
the fence must be 3.5 or less
Non-compliant fence
12
Enclosures 7.4.2

• The fence shall be constructed so that it is
  non-climbable.
• Both examples show climbable fencing due to hand
  or foot holds under 48 inches, and abatement
  netting in disrepair.

Hand or foot holds
Chain link exposed
13
Climbable FencesNot Allowed

• Both violations show hand or foot holds under 48
  inches

14
Enclosures 7.4.2

• Acceptable measures to abate climbable enclosures

Slats
Netting
Both!
15
Enclosures 7.4.2

• An additional abatement measure for climbable
  fencing is total replacement of the climbable
  fencing.
• Suitable non-climbable alternatives are compliant
  vertical component fencing (spacing between
  vertical components and under the fence less than
  3.5 inches) or a solid wall

16
Enclosures 7.4.2

• Two examples of acceptable non-climbable fencing

17
Enclosure Hazards
An exposed bolt end that protrudes more than 2
full threads is an entanglement hazardbolt ends
must be trimmed to two or less threads and sanded
if necessary to avoid an abrasion hazard
18
Enclosure Hazards
Trip Hazard
Inadequate
19
Enclosure Hazards
Good solutiontennis balls work also
Protrusion
20
Visibility 7.4.3

• The outdoor play area must be arranged so all
  areas are visible to the Child Care Providers.
• Areas to the sides of a facility must be
  inaccessible.

7.4.3
21
Visibility 7.4.3
Side yard accessible
Side yard inaccessible
22
Drinking Water 7.4.4

• Potable water must be available in each outdoor
  area.
• Fixtures must be clean and sanitary
• Fountain pressure must be regulated to keep the
  stream in the fountain basin and to avoid mouths
  touching the water source

7.4.4 9.1.4
23
Drinking Water 7.4.4
Dirty fountain
Stream overshoots
24
Drinking Water 9.1.4

• Potable water may be provided from containers
  capable of being washed, rinsed and sanitized.
• The container must be properly secured to prevent
  tipping and contamination.
• Single service cups must be stored in a sanitary
  manner

7.4.4
25
Drinking Water 9.1.4
Approved means of supply
26
Drinking Water 9.1.4
Metal surfaces must be coated or shaded to avoid
burns
Before coating
After
7.4.6
27
Drinking Water 9.1.4
Fountain has been made safe push button is
covered with plastic, bubbler is also plastic
28
Shade 7.4.5

• Minimum 5 ft2 per child per maximum facility
  capacity as determined by the Licensing
  Authority.
• Excludes shade provided by walls of building
• Required in each separately fenced area
• The ground area of the canopy of mature living
  trees can satisfy shade requirements.

Unshaded plastic slide temperature on a summer
day
7.4.5
29
Playground Equipment 7.4.6

• Commercial grade only, in compliance with U.S.
  Consumer Product Safety Commission Standards
  (CPSC)

7.4.6
30
Playground Equipment 7.4.6

• Items not allowed
• Antique fire engines or vehicles, unshaded metal
  

7.4.6
31
Playground Equipment

• Items not allowed
• Concrete pipes
• Truck tires

7.4.6
32
Playground Equipment 7.4.6

• Age Appropriate Use Access to play equipment
  must be limited to developmentally appropriate
  age groups
• Playground equipment must have signage that
  defines the age range of children for which the
  equipment is intended.

7.4.6
33
Playground Equipment 7.4

• Playground equipment must be of safe design and
  maintained in good repair.
• Hazards that require time for correction shall be
  maintained inaccessible to children until
  corrections are made.

34
Playground Equipment Testing

• Required Equipment
• 1. National Playground Safety Institute test
  probes and gauges
• 2. Spade or digging tool
• 3. Tape Measure
• 4. Camera

7.4.6
35
Playground Equipment Testing
Completely Bounded Opening Head and Torso
Probes If the Torso Probe passes through an
opening, the Head Probe must also pass
Torso
Head
36
Playground Equipment Testing

• The anthropometric basis for the three-
• dimensional Head and Torso Probes
• 5th percentile 2-year old for the Torso
• Probe (smallest torso)
• 95th percentile 5-year old for the Head
• Probe (largest head)
• Where the smallest torso goes,
• the largest head must follow

37
Playground Equipment Testing
50 FtLb Gauge used in conjunction with the head
and torso probes to test completely bounded
nonrigid openings such as flexible nets, tot
seats, and plastic enclosures
38
Playground Equipment Testing
Partially Bounded Opening Test Template
39
Playground Equipment Testing
Protrusion Gauges used to determine whether a
projection is a protrusion
40
Playground Equipment Testing
Pipe-size template used for any components
intended for use as a hand support
41
Playground Equipment Testing

• Angle finder used for
• Designated Play Surfaces
• Steps/Rungs/Platforms to be Horizontal to within
  2
• See Saw angle 25
• Slide Slope and Exit regions
• 55 Entrapment Angles

42
Playground Equipment Testing
S-Hook connectors are properly closed when
there is no gap or space greater than 0.04
in./1.0mm (width of a dime)
43
Playground Equipment Testing

• Check upper and lower loop alignment
• Neither loop of an S hook may overlap the body

Non-compliant
44
Equipment Maintenance 7.4.8

• Worn equipment and cracked or broken plastic
  components are common problems

45
Equipment Maintenance
Missing bolts and screws
7.4.6
46
Equipment Maintenance

Duct tape used for repairalso cracked plastic
7.4.6
47
Equipment Maintenance
View from underneath equipmentmissing fasteners
replaced with plastic coated cable
48
Equipment Maintenance
Missing fasteners
7.4.6
49
Equipment Maintenance
Check for structural integrity, missing pieces,
equipment that has settled causing
joints to open
7.4.6
50
Equipment Maintenance
Broken swing chain
Corroding metal bridge
Rusty surface
7.4.6
51
Equipment Maintenance
Worn connecting devices at points of moving
contact
Duct tape used for repair
52
Equipment Hazards

• Very common finger entrapmentequipment has been
  modified from original design, leaving this
  hazard

53
Equipment Hazards
Crush, shear, entanglement hazard
Abatement
May be abated by restricting movement of wheel
or replacing with a solid, not open-spoked wheel
or solid mounting piece
54
Equipment Hazards
Hand holds at the top of this chain climber are
missingnote the empty attachment bracket
55
Equipment Hazards
Non-commercial materials used for repair
56
Equipment Hazards

• Two examples of entanglement hazards due to
  protrusion of fasteners

57
Equipment Hazards
Finger entrapment hazards
58
Equipment Hazards

• Finger entrapment/integrity
• Are these missing bolts or just
• non-essential caps or plugs?

59
Equipment Hazards
Metal equipment must be shaded or coated to
prevent burns
7.4
60
Equipment Hazards
3.5-9.0 opening is an entrapment hazard
61
Equipment Hazards
Entrapment Hazard
Torso probe (3.5) passes through bars on play
equipment Head Probe (9.0) will not follow
62
Equipment Hazards
The highest designated play surface may not
exceed 8 feet for school aged, and 6 feet for
preschool aged children.
(Inspector is 511)
63
Equipment Hazards
This little girl is 3 years old. Highest play
surface of equipment is greater than 6 feet.
64
Equipment Hazards

• CPSC recommends that swings not be attached to a
  composite structure

Swings attached to composite resulting
in insufficient use zone
65
Equipment Hazards
This piece was modified by the center to add
the swings
Both of these structures are non-compliant due
to insufficient use zones
66
Equipment Hazards

• CPSC recommends no more than 2 swings per bay

67
Equipment Hazards
Protrusion/Impalement
68
Equipment Hazards
Two legs of this play structure did not touch
the ground, and contained metal edges
69
Maintenance/Supervision

• The Child Care Center Director or designee shall
  inspect the outdoor play area daily before
  children go out to play to ensure there are no
  hazards present.

7.4.8
70
Maintenance/Supervision

• Sand boxes smaller than 100 square feet shall be
  covered when not in use.
• Larger sand play areas left uncovered shall be
  inspected a minimum of daily, prior to children
  entering the area, to remove any animal fecal
  matter or other foreign debris.

7.4.8
71
Playground Hazards

• Debris present in childrens area

72
Playground Hazards

• Climbable Fence
• Abandoned Vehicle
• Inadequate Use Zone
• Inadequate Surfacing

73
Playground Hazards

• Accessible storage area
• Numerous debris hazards

74
Playground Hazards

• Overhead obstructions (tree branches, ropes),
  within the use zones of play equipment must be at
  least 84 in. (7 ft) above each designated play
  surface and the pivot point of swings

75
Playground Hazards
Tree branches within childrens reach
76
Playground Hazards
Overhead hazards
77
Playground Hazards
Plumbers tape used to secure a fence opening
A splintered, climbable remnant of an old piece
of equipment
78
Playground Hazards
Umbrella Stand BaseTrip/Impalement
Splintered, peeling paint
79
Playground Hazards
Impalement and entanglement hazards
80
Playground Hazards
Broken bench
Missing cap exposing rough surface
81
Playground Hazards
Trip hazards
82
Playground Hazards
Trip hazards
83
Playground Hazards
Trip Hazard
84
Playground Hazards
Fencing in disrepair
85
Playground Hazards

• Utility meters must be inaccessible
• Power supply boxes must be locked or inaccessible

Violation
7.4.8
86
Playground Hazards
Utility poles and their supports need to be
made inaccessible
Tree supports need to be high enough to
eliminate any hazard
7.4.8
87
Playground Hazards
Bird droppings on play structure handholds
7.4.8
88
Surfacing

• Outdoor play areas may be dirt, grass, concrete,
  asphalt, etc., and may not contain hazards such
  as leftover construction debris, rocks,
  irrigation equipment or irregular surfaces.
• Adequate surfacing must be in good repairnot
  lifting, cracking and free of holes, trip hazards
  or worn spots

89
Surfacing
Cracked and uneven surfacing
90
Protective Surfacing
Required in the use zone of climbable
equipment. When a center has no climbable
equipment or swings no special surfacing is
required.
7.4.7
91
Protective Surfacing

• Fall heightThe vertical distance from a
• designated play surface and the protective
• surfacing beneath it
• Designated play surfaceAny elevated surface for
  standing, walking, sitting or climbing, or a flat
  surface greater than 2 inches wide by 2 inches
  long having an angle less than 30 from
  horizontal

92
Protective Surfacing
The slide platform is the highest elevated
surface on this piece. The fall height is
measured at this point.
93
Protective Surfacing

• Critical heightThe fall height below which a
  life-threatening head injury would not be
  expected to occur
• Protective surfacingMaterial(s) to be used
  within the use zone of any playground equipment

94
Protective Surfacing

• Check for proper surfacing in the use zones of
  equipment
• Protective surfacing must be installed to a depth
  appropriate to the fall height of the equipment
  and the critical height of tested materials per
  Handbook for Public Playground Safety, Consumer
  Product Safety Commission Pub. No. 325, Table 1

7.4.7
95
Protective Surfacing

• Asphalt, concrete, soil, hard packed dirt, grass
  and turf are unsuitable for use under and around
  playground equipment of any height
• Acceptable playground protective surfacing
  materials are available in two basic types,
  unitary or loose-fill

96
CPSC Table 1-Critical Heights of Tested Materials
(in feet/9in depth)
Tests were conducted in accordance with ASTM F1292
97
Protective Surfacing

• The CPSC Table 1 contains select loose-fill
  material data only.
• For other materials, including unitary materials
  such as pour-in-place urethane and rubberized
  artificial turf, or loose-fill materials such as
  tire crumbs and bark nuggets, test data from an
  independent testing laboratory certifying the
  critical height of material (per ASTM F1292) must
  be obtained and maintained on file by the
  operator.

98
Protective Surfacing

• Centers must maintain loose surfacing integrity.
  
• The surface material must be properly drained.
• When loose fill, resilient material becomes
  compacted, it must be raked and/or turned to
  restore resilience.

Garden spade used to determine depth of material
7.4.7
99
Protective Surfacing

• Inadequate surfacing often exposes trip
  hazardsin addition to the hazard of inadequate
  impact attenuation material.

100
Protective Surfacing
Trip hazard and an exposed rock
101
Protective Surfacing

• Surfacing material accumulates under platforms
  and slides

102
Protective Surfacing

• leaving the use
• zone areas with
• inadequate protection

and exposed hazards
103
Protective Surfacing

• Inadequate surfacing in equipment use zones will
  result in play area closure until surfacing is
  restored the Licensing Authority is notified.

7.4.7
104
Surfacing Problems
Squares have become hardened and no longer
provide protection. They also pose a trip hazard.
105
Surfacing Problems
Worn surfacing and exposed sub-surface which has
hardened this center attempted to replace the
green turf without going through Plan Review or
replacing the resilient surfacing underneath.
106
Surfacing Problems
Missing pieces in use zones mean no
protection plus they present trip hazards
107
Surfacing Problems
Uneven surfacing with a hole
Exposed tree roots
108
Surfacing Problems
Unitary material in disrepair
109
Surfacing Problems
Puzzle squares are not appropriate surfacing
110
Surfacing Problems
Check the integrity of these mats. They age and
harden and often need to be removed because
they provide no additional impact attenuation
protection, and are actually a harder surface
than the protective surface underneath.
111
Equipment Use Zones

• Minimum 6 ft radius from perimeter of equipment
  to any unyielding surface
• Consult CPSC Handbook for Public Playground
  Safety for specific equipment

112
Equipment Use Zones

• Stationary Equipment (excluding slides)
• 6 feet in all directions from the perimeter of
  the equipment
• Use zones of two stationary adjacent pieces may
  overlap (6 ft) if the designated play surfaces
  are less than 30 inches
• 9 ft if greater than 30 inches

113
Use Zone for Slides
In front of access and to the sides6ft At the
slide exit H 4ft where Hdistance from
protective surfacing to highest point of the
chute Slide use zones may never overlap
114
Use Zone for Single-Axis Swings
Front and rear of swing 2X Height from the
protective surfacing to the pivot point Side of
swing 6 feet Front and rear use zones may
not overlap. Side use zones may overlap .
115
Minimum Clearances for Single-Axis Swings
116
Use Zone for Multi-Axis Swings
117
Tot Swings
The distance from the underside of an occupied
tot swing seat should be no less than 24 inches
118
Equipment Use Zones

• Many of the large child care centers have
  composite play structures. Shade structures are
  often installed after the equipmentverify that
  use zones have not been compromised.

119
Use Zones, Metal Equipment, Fencing, Surfacing,
Overhead Hazards
Multiple Hazards
120
Inadequate Use Zones
due to non-anchored, non-commercial equipment
in same area with permanent equipment
121
Inadequate Use Zones
122
Inadequate Use Zones
123
Inadequate Use Zones
124
Inadequate Use Zones
125
Fall Protection

• Either guardrails or protective barriers may be
  used to prevent inadvertent or unintentional
  falls off elevated platforms. In addition, they
  should be designed to prevent intentional
  attempts by children seeking to defeat the
  barrier either by climbing over or through the
  barrier.

126
Fall Protection

• Guardrails or protective barriers should
  completely surround an elevated platform except
  for entrance and exit openings necessary to
  access the play equipment.

127
Fall Protection

• The recommended elevated surface heights that
  require protection are
• Preschool-Agemore than 20
• School-Agemore than 30
• Platforms that are more than 48 require a
  protective barrier.

128
Fall Protection

• The minimum height should prevent the largest
  children from inadvertently falling over the
  guardrail or protective barrier.
• A guardrail should extend low enough to prevent
  the smallest child from inadvertently stepping
  under it.
• A protective barrier should not permit children
  to climb through or under it, and should preclude
  passage of the torso template.

129
Fall Protection
Recommended specifications for Guardrails taken
from CPSC Publication No. 325
130
Fall Protection
Guardrail Protective Barrier
131
Fall Protection
Not required on this piece
132
Fall Protection

• The recommended minimum height of a protective
  barrier is
• Preschool-Age Childrenminimum 29
• School-Age Childrenminimum 38

133

• Consult the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
  Commission Handbook for Public Playground Safety
  Publication No. 325 for additional information
  regarding
• Surfacing
• Use Zones for Equipment
• Layout and Design
• Installation and Maintenance of Equipment
• Platforms, Guardrails Protective Barriers
• Stairways, Ladders Handrails
• General Hazards

134
Family Care Homes
The street address must be affixed to the
residence and easily readable from the street.
12.1.1
135
Family Care Homes

• Enclosures
• Perimeter fencing or walls and gates must
• be no less than 48 inches (48) in height
• Spacing between vertical components or under the
  fence must be 3.5 or less
• Gates must be secured so children cannot gain
  unauthorized exit

12.3
136
Family Care Homes

• All mechanical equipment including heating,
  ventilation, air conditioning systems (HVAC) must
  be inaccessible

12.1.3
137
Family Care Homes

• Exterior garbage and rubbish containers shall be
  easily cleanable, covered with a tight fitting
  lid and inaccessible to children.
• Anti-siphon, backflow prevention, or vacuum
  breakers shall be installed on all water outlets
  to which a hose may be attached.

12.1 14.1.6
138
Family Care Homes

• Use of residential swimming pools, spas and
  portable wading pools is prohibited for children
  in care during business hours.

12.2.1
139
Family Care Homes

• Bodies of Water--Barriers to Access
• Wall or non-climbable, permanent fence, minimum 5
  ft (50) high
• Vertical openings not more than 3 ½ apart

12.2.2
140
Family Care Homes

• Bodies of Water--Barriers to Access
• Gates or doors must be self-closing with
• positive self-latching mechanisms located
• 42-48 above the ground on the side
• facing the body of water

12.2.2
141
Family Care Homes

• Shade must be provided in addition to the shade
  offered by the exterior walls of the
• residence
• Minimum 50 sq feet for Family Care Homes
• Minimum 100 sq feet for Group Care Homes
• Mature trees may satisfy this requirement

12.3.2
142
Family Care Homes

• An elevated, portable water table may be used for
  water playit must be emptied, cleaned and
  sanitized immediately after each use
• Sprinkler play is permitted as long as the area
  remains free of pooling water

12.2.3 12.2.4
143
Family Care Homes

• An outdoor play area shall be arranged so that
  all areas in a given enclosed play yard are
  visible to the Child Care Provider

12.3.1
144
Family Care Homes

• Age Appropriate Use Access to play equipment
  shall be limited to age groups for which the
  equipment is developmentally appropriate
  according to the manufacturer instructions.
• Equipment not commercially manufactured shall
  comply with the requirements of the most current
  edition of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
  Commission, Handbook for Public Playground
  Safety, Publication No. 325.

145
Family Care HomesOutdoor Play Equipment
Climb-on equipment shall be positioned at least
6 feet away from any unyielding surface such as
pavement, fences, trees or other equipment.
Surfacing and use zones are
non-compliant
146
Family Care HomesBackyard Hazards
Potentially dangerous tools or equipment,
pesticides and other toxic substances must be
maintained inaccessible to children
12.1.2
147
Family Care Homes Backyard Hazards
Gas grills need to be inaccessible, and
trampoline use is not allowed
12.1.3 12.3.3
148
Family Care HomesBackyard Hazards
Storage sheds shall be locked at all times
12.1.2
149
Family Care HomesBackyard Hazards
Garden hoses and loose cable or phone wires on
exterior walls pose an entanglement hazard
150
Family Care HomesMultiple Hazards
Impalement Entanglement Tripping Abrasion
151
More Hazards, Same Location
Insufficient Use Zone6 minimum Insufficient
Surfacingpositioned on unyielding surface

152
Family Care HomeBackyard Hazards

• Inadequate Use Zone
• Insufficient Surfacing
• Chairs in the Use Zone

153
Inspection and Compliance

• The operator of the Child Care Facility shall
  maintain a copy of the last health inspection
  report as well as a copy of the regulations on
  file at the facility, readily available for
  parental review.
• Unless otherwise noted on the inspection report,
  all items of violation shall be corrected within
  30 days.

2.0
154
Resources

• www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org
• which has links for
• --Southern Nevada Health District Regulations
  Governing the Sanitation of Child Care Facilities
• --Southern Nevada Health District Regulations
  Governing the Sanitation of Food Establishments
• --Playground Resource Guide (a copy of this
  presentation)
• www.cpsc.gov
• which has links for
• --U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
  publication No. 325, Handbook for Public
  Playground Safety, and the Outdoor Home
  Playground Safety Handbook

155
Everybody play nice!
156
QUESTIONS???